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The words and tone were courtier-like, but their inference was unmistakable. I could have killed him for it! A swift glance from Anne commanded silence and self-restraint. "You are a flatterer, Mr. Cassavetti," she said in mock reproof. "Come along, good people; there's plenty of room here!" as other acquaintances joined us. "Oh, some one's going to recite hush!"
The next hour or so passed pleasantly, and all too quickly. Anne was the centre of a merry group, and was now in her wittiest and most gracious mood. Cassavetti remained with us, speaking seldom, though he could be a brilliant conversationalist when he liked. He listened to Anne's every word, watched every gesture, unobtrusively, but with a curious intentness.
"Oh, don't say that, sir," remonstrated Jenkins. "I wonder if Mr. Cassavetti is out. I'd like to say good-bye to him," I resumed presently. "Go up and ring, there's a good chap, Jenkins. And if he's there, you might ask him to come down." It struck me that I might at least ascertain from Cassavetti what he knew of Anne. Why hadn't I thought of that before?
"No, it happened to some one else; and it concerns you, Cassavetti," I continued, addressing him, for, as I confessed that I was unhurt, Anne's momentary flash of compunction passed, and her perverse mood reasserted itself. With a slight shrug of her white shoulders she resumed her dinner, and though she must have heard what I told Cassavetti, she betrayed no sign of interest.
He shrugged his shoulders. "I had to choose, either to fly with them, and thereby endanger us all still further, or allow myself to be taken. That last seemed best, and I think I am sure I was right." "Did you know the soldiers were coming?" "No. That, by the way, was Selinski's doing, Cassavetti, as you call him." "Cassavetti!" I exclaimed. "Why, he was dead weeks before!"
Following the trampling of feet, slamming of Torpenhow's door, and the sound of voices in strenuous debate, some one squeaked, 'And see, you good fellows, I have found a new water-bottle firs'-class patent eh, how you say? Open himself inside out. Dick sprang to his feet. He knew the voice well. 'That's Cassavetti, come back from the Continent. Now I know why Torp went away.
I went right up the stairs and there was no one there and not a sound. The door was shut fast enough then, for I tried it. It couldn't have been Mr. Gray or Mr. Sellars, for they're away week ending, and Mr. Cassavetti came in before twelve. I met him on the stairs as I was turning the lights down." "Perhaps he went out again to post," I suggested. "Good night, Jenkins." "Good night, sir.
But ordinary robbery was evidently not the motive, for there were several articles of value scattered about the room; nor had the body been rifled. Cassavetti wore a valuable diamond ring, which was still on his finger, as his gold watch was still in his breast-pocket; it had stopped at ten minutes to twelve.
"Are there any here who are against the election of Constantine" I could not catch the other name, which was a long Polish one, I think "to the place on the council, vacant since the murder of our comrade, Vladimir Selinski?" Selinski! Cassavetti! He little guessed as he spoke that the man who found Cassavetti's body was now within five paces of him!
And he spoke of Cassavetti; he came to see him, really. That was why I dare not tell you the whole story just now " "Cassavetti!" she echoed, and I saw her eyes dilate and darken. "Who is he what is he? I never saw him before, but he came up and talked to Mr.
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